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Registered agent guide · Kentucky

Kentucky Registered Agent Guide (2026): Rules, Fees and the 3 Best Agents

Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and KY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year): that is our 2026 order for registered agent service in Kentucky. Every Kentucky LLC must keep a registered agent on file. The state's own yearly fees come to $190, 42nd of 50.
State Filing Data research desk

Kentucky numbers

of 50 for yearly state charges

Low rank, low state fees. Full table

Registered agent required

Yes

Source apps.legislature.ky.gov (October 2026)

Annual report

$15 / yr

Deadline: on or before June 30. Source sos.ky.gov (August 2026)

Minimum yearly tax

$175

Source revenue.ky.gov (October 2026)

Yearly state fees

$190

Yearly state charges

Services we'd use in Kentucky

Five criteria, fixed weights, same for every state. Details: methodology.

Top of our list

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies that may expand

$149 per year (renewal $149)

Mainstay Filing is where we'd go first: $149 a year, flat, from a provider that serves every state.

It costs $150 more than Kentucky Registered Agent.co over three years; on our method the extra filings it covers outweigh that.

What you pay for

  • Street address for the registered office
  • Service of process scanned the same business day, no fee
  • First three government mailings a year scanned free
  • Works for LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs and nonprofits

For

  • $149 a year, same at renewal
  • Works in every state

Against

  • Costs $50 more each year than Kentucky Registered Agent.co
  • Reports are not part of the agent plan
Kentucky specialist

2. Kentucky Registered Agent.co: best for a Kentucky-only company

$99 per year (renewal $99)

In second place, Kentucky Registered Agent.co: a Kentucky-only plan at $99 a year that renews at $99.

What you pay for

  • Physical Kentucky address
  • Served legal papers scanned to your online account

For

  • Smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • Flat $99/yr

Against

  • Single-state service
  • You file the annual report
Kentucky specialist

3. KY Registered Agent.org: best for Kentucky-only companies

$99 per year (renewal $99)

In third place, KY Registered Agent.org: a Kentucky-only plan at $99 a year that renews at $99.

On price it is level with Kentucky Registered Agent.co.

What you pay for

  • Physical Kentucky address
  • Served legal papers scanned to your online account

For

  • Smaller yearly bill than Mainstay Filing
  • Flat $99/yr

Against

  • Single-state service
  • You file the annual report

Kentucky picks compared

#ServiceAnnual priceRenewal priceThree-year service fees
1 Mainstay Filing $149$149/yr$447
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Kentucky Registered Agent.co $99$99/yr$297
Visit Kentucky Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 KY Registered Agent.org $99$99/yr$297
Visit KY Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each company's published price, read November 12, 2026. Whichever agent you name, Kentucky charges the same.

Kentucky agent and upkeep calculator

Years and agent in, total out. Recurring state fees only, no formation fee.

Total, 3 years, Mainstay Filing: $1,002. State $555, service $447.

How Kentucky compares with nearby ranks

RankStateYearly state fees
40th Florida$138.75
41st Arkansas$150
42nd Kentucky$190
43rd North Carolina$200
44th Maryland$300

See the 50-state table for every rank.

Kentucky registered agent requirements, per state law

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a physical registered office in Kentucky that matches the agent's business address. A P.O. box is not enough.

Who may act as agent: A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance. (KRS 14A.4-010)

Recurring Kentucky fees

Your registered agent receives the state's notices about the annual report, which costs $15 every year and is due on or before June 30. Limited Liability Entity Tax: a $175 minimum each year to the Department of Revenue.

Why this order

Of our five criteria, state filings covered (30%) settled first place in Kentucky.

One agent for any state beat the single-state option here.

Kentucky questions answered

Does Kentucky require a registered agent?

Yes. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who can serve as the registered agent?

A Kentucky resident, or an entity qualified to do business in Kentucky, whose business address is the registered office. The agent signs or files a written acceptance.

How much does a registered agent cost in Kentucky?

$99 to $149 a year among our picks.

What does the LLC pay the state each year?

$190 a year on our measure: the annual report ($15 every year) plus the minimum tax.

Which registered agents are on this page?

Mainstay Filing ($149 a year), Kentucky Registered Agent.co ($99 a year) and KY Registered Agent.org ($99 a year), in our order.

Which registered agent would you pick?

We'd use Mainstay Filing: $149 a year with the same price at renewal, and the plan works in all fifty states. Kentucky Registered Agent.co and KY Registered Agent.org follow.

More for this state

Sources

  1. [August 2026] Kentucky Secretary of State: sos.ky.gov
  2. [August 2026] Kentucky Secretary of State: sos.ky.gov
  3. [August 2026] Kentucky report due date: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  4. [August 2026] KRS 275.025: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  5. [October 2026] Kentucky formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.ky.gov
  6. [October 2026] Kentucky registered agent statute: apps.legislature.ky.gov
  7. [October 2026] Kentucky other cost: Limited Liability Entity Tax, official: revenue.ky.gov
  8. [August 2026] Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.fl.gov
  9. [August 2026] Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations: dos.fl.gov
  10. [October 2026] Florida yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source: flsenate.gov
  11. [October 2026] Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax report: what and: sos.arkansas.gov
  12. [October 2026] Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax: amount and filing: sos.arkansas.gov
  13. [August 2026] North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State: sosnc.gov
  14. [August 2026] North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State: sosnc.gov
  15. [August 2026] Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov
  16. [August 2026] Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation: dat.maryland.gov
  17. Read November 12, 2026 from Mainstay Filing's Kentucky service page
  18. Read November 12, 2026 from Kentucky Registered Agent.co's pricing page
  19. Read November 12, 2026 from KY Registered Agent.org's pricing page